Intrigue and tension at Leamington gallery
DRAMATIC environments across the world have been captured on canvas by the next artist to showcase his work at Gallery 150 in Leamington.
Stratford-based Barry R Wills, who has been practising art for more than 40 years, is exhibiting for the first time in the town from tomorrow (Tuesday).
Having completed a fine art degree at Portsmouth College of Art and Design and gained an art teaching qualification at the University of Sussex in Brighton, Barry has spent most of his life teaching art to children and adults - but only recently decided to open out his works to the market.
He said: “I have always been very reluctant to sell my work. When you spend a month or more working on a painting, it becomes part of you and you don’t want to let it become commercial.
“But now it’s easy to produce decent prints so my outlook has changed.”
Since he embarked on an overland trip from London to Delhi during the 1970s, Barry has been a keen traveller and gains inspiration from the places he has been.
He said: “I have been particularly impressed by Nepal, Afghanistan, Laos, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, New York, Iceland, China and Norway. I consider that my paintings of Iceland and Norway are two of the most successful projects that I have undertaken.
“But Egypt in particular was a favourite source of inspiration.”
A committed user of acrylic paints, Barry takes photographs while on his travels, then works from them on his canvas.
He said: “I choose certain aspects that I like about the picture and manipulate them, so it’s not a copy of the photograph but a re-working of it.”
More recently, Barry has focused on environmental paintings. He said: “The intrigue and tension between what could be and what could never be is a fascinating area and one that I often use within my own work.”
Visitors to Barry’s exhibition, Dramatic Environments, can meet him at the private view at the gallery in Livery Street tomorrow from 7pm to 9pm, and then it will be showing from Wednesday until Sunday December 9. Opening hours are Tuesday to Saturday 11am to 6pm and Sunday 11am to 4pm.
Anyone wishing to attend the private view should call the gallery on 07400 258 555. To find out more about Barry’s work, email artisticturkey@hotmail.co.uk
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Kenilworth
Wednesday 19 June 2013
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 13 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 12 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
